Cardinals notebook: Putting pressure on QB defense’s priority again

Putting pressure on the opposing quarterback seems to come and go this season.

Right now, it’s going.

The Cardinals have dropped off in rushing the passer lately. That’s somewhat understandable against the defending champion New York Giants. But against slumping Philadelphia?

“This past week, it’s hard to judge because we just didn’t play well,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

The Cardinals had opportunities vs. Donovan McNabb but, “Donovan is just a very good scrambler, and he’s strong, and he got out of a couple of those situations,” Whisenhunt said.

The Cardinals need to mix up their pressures, run their stunts and fill their gaps more precisely.

The Cardinals put on pressure vs. Dallas and San Francisco, so there’s no reason they couldn’t do it again, he said.

“We’re going to work on that again this week and see if we can get back to that a little bit,” Whisenhunt said.

Defensive end Antonio Smith said teams are starting to run maximum protection against them, and “It’s kind of hard to find a way to rush. … Your hands are tied sometimes.”

R&R CONCLUDES

The Cardinals returned to the practice field Wednesday for the first time since their Thanksgiving night pratfall at Philadelphia.

“I felt fresh out there today; everybody else probably felt fresh, too,” defensive end Antonio Smith said.

Though they had a short week before the Eagles game, the Cardinals can make it up with the current long week.

“It was needed,” Smith said of the break. “It might be an advantage to have those days off to get our bodies rested.”

At the same time, the Cardinals can’t “throw out” the Eagles game because of the difficult circumstances, Smith said.

“It was a disappointment … to lose in the fashion we did. It’s not going to leave our minds.”

INJURY UPDATE

Linebacker Clark Haggans continues to sit out practice with a lingering foot injury.

Also sitting out Wednesday were backup safety Matt Ware and special-teams player Pago Togafau.

Injured cornerback Rod Hood practiced on a limited basis.

MEET THE PUNTER

He says things like “Ello, mate” and speaks in an Australian accent.

He’s Ben Graham, the Cardinals’ latest punter.

Graham was born Down Under and played for 12 years in Australian Rules Football. Then he retired until, on the advice of scouts, he tried out as a punter in America.

He did, and hooked on with the New York Jets for 3 1/2 years.

He got the call from the Cardinals after Thursday night’s game.

“I always believed I have the ability to punt in this league, that it was just a matter of getting that next opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited to be here.”

TICKETS REMAIN

The Cardinals had yet to sell out Sunday’s game against the Rams by Wednesday afternoon.

They have until this afternoon to sell the remaining tickets to keep the game on local TV, unless an extension is granted by the NFL.